Memory cell with separate read and program paths

ABSTRACT

A memory cell includes a bit line, a read word line and a program word line, and a read device having a second read terminal connected to the read word line and a first read terminal. A program device has a second program terminal connected to the program word line and a first program terminal. A memory element includes a memory region, between first and second memory element terminals, comprising a memory material having an electrical property that can be changed by the application of energy. The first memory element terminal is connected to the first read terminal and the second memory element terminal is connected to the bit line. An energy emitting element comprises first and second spaced apart energy emitting element terminals and an energy emitting region between the terminals and in an energy-transmitting relationship with the memory region. The first energy emitting element terminal is connected to the first program terminal and the second energy emitting element terminal is connected to the bit line.

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation; Macronix International Corporation, Ltd., a Taiwan corporation, and Infineon Technologies A.G., a German corporation, are parties to a Joint Research Agreement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to high density memory devices based on memory materials, for example resistor random access memory (RRAM) devices, and to methods for manufacturing such devices. The memory material is switchable between electrical property states by the application of energy. The memory materials may be phase change based memory materials, including chalcogenide based materials, and other materials.

2. Description of Related Art

Phase change based memory materials are widely used in read-write optical disks. These materials have at least two solid phases, including for example a generally amorphous solid phase and a generally crystalline solid phase. Laser pulses are used in read-write optical disks to switch between phases and to read the optical properties of the material after the phase change.

Phase change based memory materials, like chalcogenide based materials and similar materials, also can be caused to change phase by application of electrical current through the memory material at levels suitable for implementation in integrated circuits. The generally amorphous state is characterized by higher resistivity than the generally crystalline state; this difference in resistance can be readily sensed to indicate data. These properties have generated interest in using programmable resistive material to form nonvolatile memory circuits, which can be read and written with random access.

The change from the amorphous to the crystalline state is generally a lower current operation. The change from crystalline to amorphous, referred to as reset herein, is generally a higher current operation, which includes a short high current density pulse to melt or breakdown the crystalline structure, after which the phase change material cools quickly, quenching the phase change process, allowing at least a portion of the phase change structure to stabilize in the amorphous state. It is desirable to minimize the magnitude of the reset current used to cause transition of phase change material from crystalline state to amorphous state. The magnitude of the reset current needed for reset can be reduced by reducing the size of the phase change material element in the cell and by reducing the size of the contact area between electrodes and the phase change material, so that higher current densities are achieved with small absolute current values through the phase change material element.

One direction of development has been toward using small quantities of programmable resistive material, particularly in small pores. Patents illustrating development toward small pores include: Ovshinsky, “Multibit Single Cell Memory Element Having Tapered Contact,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,112, issued Nov. 11, 1997; Zahorik et al., “Method of Making Chalogenide [sic] Memory Device,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,277, issued Aug. 4, 1998; Doan et al., “Controllable Ovonic Phase-Change Semiconductor Memory Device and Methods of Fabricating the Same,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,253, issued Nov. 21, 2000.

In phase change memory, data is stored by causing transitions in the phase change material between amorphous and crystalline states using current. Current heats the material and causes transitions between the states. The change from the amorphous to the crystalline state is generally a lower current operation. The change from crystalline to amorphous, referred to as reset herein, is generally a higher current operation. It is desirable to minimize the magnitude of the reset current used to cause transition of phase change material from crystalline state to amorphous state. The magnitude of the reset current needed for reset can be reduced by reducing the size of the active phase change material element in the cell.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One example of a memory cell, the memory cell being pat of a memory device, comprises a bit line, a read word line and a program word line. The memory cell includes several other elements, including a read device having first and second read terminals, the second read terminal connected to the read word line. A program device has a first and second program terminals, the second program terminal connected to the program word line. A memory element comprises a memory region between first and second memory element terminals. At least the memory region of the memory element comprises a memory material having an electrical property that can be changed by the application of energy. The first memory element terminal is connected to the first read terminal and the second memory element terminal is connected to the bit line. An energy emitting element comprises first and second spaced apart energy emitting element terminals and an energy emitting region between the first and second energy emitting element terminals. The energy emitting region is in an energy-transmitting relationship with the memory region. The first energy emitting element terminal is connected to the first program terminal and the second energy emitting element terminal is connected to the bit line.

An example of a method for programming a memory cell comprises changing and sensing steps, discussed below. The memory cell is part of a memory device and is of the type comprising several elements. A memory element comprises a memory region between first and second memory element terminals. At least the memory region of the memory element comprises a memory material having an electrical property that can be changed by the application of energy. An energy emitting element comprises first and second spaced apart energy emitting element terminals and an energy emitting region between the first and second energy emitting element terminals. The energy region is in an energy-transmitting relationship with the memory region. The electrical property state of the memory region is changed by passing a first electrical current between the first and second energy emitting element terminals thereby transmitting energy from the energy emitting region to the memory region. The electrical property state of the memory material element is sensed by passing a second electrical current between the first and second memory element terminals. In some methods the electrical property state changing step comprises transmitting heat energy from the energy transmitting region to the memory region.

Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen on review the figures, the detailed description, and the claims which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a memory cellmate according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an overall view showing the relative orientations of the memory element and the energy emitting element of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure of FIG. 2 showing the path of current through the energy emitting element;

FIG. 4 is a graph of temperature and voltage versus time illustrating conventional techniques for causing a phase change material to assume a generally crystalline state, typically characterized as “0”, and a generally amorphous state, typically characterized as “1”; and

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of FIG. 2 showing the path of current through the memory element to permit the state of the memory element to be read.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description of the invention will typically be with reference to specific structural embodiments and methods. It is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specifically disclosed embodiments and methods but that the invention may be practiced using other features, elements, methods and embodiments. Preferred embodiments are described to illustrate the present invention, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations on the description that follows. Like elements in various embodiments are commonly referred to with like reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating an embodiment of a memory cell 10 made according to the invention. Memory cell 10 is typically a component of a semiconductor memory device, such as an RRAM device. Memory cell 10 includes a program word line 12, a read word line 14 and a bit line 16. Memory cell 10 also includes a program device 17, in the form of a program transistor, and a read device 18, in the form of a read transistor. Program device 17 includes a drain 20, acting as a first program terminal 20, a gate 22, acting as a second program terminal 22, and a source 24. Read device 18 includes a drain 26, acting as a first read terminal 26, a gate 28, acting as a second read terminal, 28 and a source 30. Second program terminal 22 is connected to program word line 12 and second read terminal 28 is connected to read word line 14. In this embodiment, sources 24, 30 are connected to one another and to ground 32.

Memory cell 10 also includes a memory element 36 connecting first read terminal 26 with bit line 16. Memory element 36 includes a memory region 38 comprising a memory material having an electrical property state can be changed by the application of energy. It is currently believed that the memory material will be a programmable resistive type of memory material, in particular a phase change material. Various types of phase change materials are discussed in more detail below. However, other types of memory materials that are currently available but unknown to the present inventor or that are discovered in the future, may be suitable for use with the present invention. Memory cell 10 also includes an energy emitting element 40 electrically connecting first program terminal 20 with bit line 16. Energy emitting element 40 includes an energy emitting region 42. Energy emitting region 42 is in an energy-transmitting relationship with memory region 38. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 energy emitting element is a resistive element and emits heat type energy so to heat memory region 38 of memory element 36. In some embodiments energy emitting region is electrically separated from memory region 38. Energy emitting element 40 could be constructed to emit other types of energy, such as magnetic field energy or light energy, depending at least in part upon the type of memory material used.

At least the energy emitting region 42 of energy emitting element 40 may be made of an appropriate higher resistance electrical conductor, including for example silicon carbide, carbon, tungsten, and tungsten nitride.

In the disclosed embodiment memory element 36 and energy emitting element 40 are oriented generally perpendicular to one another to help minimize the size of memory region 38. See FIG. 2.

The programming of memory cell 10 is achieved by passing a current through energy emitting element 40 from program device 17. By the passage of an appropriate current through energy emitting element 40, memory region 38 can be heated in a manner to cause memory region to be in a generally crystalline, lower resistance state (that is set) or in a generally amorphous, higher resistance state (that is reset). This passage of current and the heating of memory region 38 are suggested in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 5 illustrates the passing of current through memory element 36 from first read terminal 26 of read device 18 and to bit line 16 for sensing the state of the memory element, typically by a sense amplifier (not shown).

Memory cell 10 electrically isolates memory element 36 from energy emitting element 40 by passing programming currents through energy emitting element 40 but not through memory element 36 and by passing reading current through memory element 36 but not through energy emitting element 40. Having the separate paths for reading and programming permits the reading current to be increased when compared to conventional programmable resistive memory devices because energy emitting element 40 is not in series with memory element 36. In addition, the programming current can be decreased when compared to conventional programmable resistive memory devices by using, for example, is a higher resistance energy emitting element 40. One benefit is a resulting increase in the read speed while another benefit is a reduction in the reset current level.

Discussion of Memory Materials

Useful characteristics of a phase change material include the material having a resistance which is programmable in a reversible manner, such as by having at least two solid phases that can be reversibly induced by electrical current. These at least two phases include an amorphous phase and a crystalline phase. However, in operation, the phase change material may not be fully converted to either an amorphous or crystalline phase. Intermediate phases or mixtures of phases may have a detectable difference in material characteristics. The two solid phases should generally be bistable and have different electrical properties. The phase change material may be a chalcogenide material. A chalcogenide material may include GST. In following sections of the disclosure, the phase change is often referred to as GST, and it will be understood that other types of phase change materials can be used. A material useful for implementation of a memory cell as described herein is Ge₂Sb₂Te₅.

A memory cell 10 as described herein is readily manufacturable using standard lithography and thin film deposition technologies, without requiring extraordinary steps to form sub-lithographic patterns, while achieving very small dimensions for the region of the cell that actually changes resistivity during programming. The memory region 38 in the memory element 36 that changes phase is preferably small; and accordingly, the magnitude of the reset current required for changing the phase is also small.

Embodiments of memory cell 10 include chalcogenide based materials, and other phase change materials, for memory element 36. Chalcogens include any of the four elements oxygen (O), sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te), forming part of group VI of the periodic table. Chalcogenides comprise compounds of a chalcogen with a more electropositive element or radical. Chalcogenide alloys comprise combinations of chalcogenides with other materials such as transition metals. A chalcogenide alloy usually contains one or more elements from column six of the periodic table of elements, such as germanium (Ge) and tin (Sn). Often, chalcogenide alloys include combinations including one or more of antimony (Sb), gallium (Ga), indium (In), and silver (Ag). Many phase change based memory materials have been described in technical literature, including alloys of: Ga/Sb, In/Sb, In/Se, Sb/Te, Ge/Te, Ge/Sb/Te, In/Sb/Te, Ga/Se/Te, Sn/Sb/Te, In/Sb/Ge, Ag/In/Sb/Te, Ge/Sn/Sb/Te, Ge/Sb/Se/Te and Te/Ge/Sb/S. In the family of Ge/Sb/Te alloys, a wide range of alloy compositions may be workable. The compositions can be characterized as Te_(a)Ge_(b)Sb_(100−(a+b)), where a and b represent atomic percentages that total 100% of the atoms of the constituent elements. One researcher has described the most useful alloys as having an average concentration of Te in the deposited materials well below 70%, typically below about 60% and ranged in general from as low as about 23% up to about 58% Te and most preferably about 48% to 58% Te. Concentrations of Ge were above about 5% and ranged from a low of about 8% to about 30% average in the material, remaining generally below 50%. Most preferably, concentrations of Ge ranged from about 8% to about 40%. The remainder of the principal constituent elements in this composition was Sb. (Ovshinsky '112 patent, cols 10-11.) Particular alloys evaluated by another researcher include Ge₂Sb₂Te₅, GeSb₂Te₄ and GeSb₄Te₇. (Noboru Yamada, “Potential of Ge—Sb—Te Phase-Change Optical Disks for High-Data-Rate Recording”, SPIE v.3109, pp. 28-37 (1997).) More generally, a transition metal such as chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), niobium (Nb), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt) and mixtures or alloys thereof may be combined with Ge/Sb/Te to form a phase change alloy that has programmable resistive properties. Specific examples of memory materials that may be useful are given in Ovshinsky '112 at columns 11-13, which examples are hereby incorporated by reference.

Phase change materials are capable of being switched between a first structural state in which the material is in a generally amorphous solid phase, and a second structural state in which the material is in a generally crystalline solid phase in its local order in the active channel region of the cell. These phase change materials are at least bistable. The term amorphous is used to refer to a relatively less ordered structure, more disordered than a single crystal, which has the detectable characteristics such as higher electrical resistivity than the crystalline phase. The term crystalline is used to refer to a relatively more ordered structure, more ordered than in an amorphous structure, which has detectable characteristics such as lower electrical resistivity than the amorphous phase. Typically, phase change materials may be electrically switched between different detectable states of local order across the spectrum between completely amorphous and completely crystalline states. Other material characteristics affected by the change between amorphous and crystalline phases include atomic order, free electron density and activation energy. The material may be switched either into different solid phases or into mixtures of two or more solid phases, providing a gray scale between completely amorphous and completely crystalline states. The electrical properties in the material may vary accordingly.

Phase change materials can be changed from one phase state to another by application of electrical pulses. It has been observed that a shorter, higher amplitude pulse tends to change the phase change material to a generally amorphous state, and is referred to as a reset pulse. A longer, lower amplitude pulse tends to change the phase change material to a generally crystalline state, and is referred to as a program pulse. The energy in a shorter, higher amplitude pulse is high enough to allow for bonds of the crystalline structure to be broken and short enough to prevent the atoms from realigning into a crystalline state. Appropriate profiles for pulses can be determined empirically, without undue experimentation, specifically adapted to a particular phase change material and device structure.

The following is a short summary describing one type of a phase change material.

Chalcogenide phase change material.

-   -   Ge_(x)Sb_(y)Te_(z)     -   x:y:z=2:2:5     -   Or other compositions with x: 0˜5; y: 0˜5; z: 0˜10     -   GeSbTe with doping, such as N—, Si—, Ti—, or other element         doping may also be used.     -   Formation method: By PVD sputtering or magnetron-sputtering         method with reactive gases of Ar, N₂, and/or He, etc         chalcogenide @ the pressure of 1 mtorr˜100 mtorr. The deposition         is usually done at room temperature. The collimator with aspect         ratio of 1˜5 can be used to improve the fill-in performance. To         improve the fill-in performance, the DC bias of several ten to         several hundred volts is also used. On the other hand, the         combination of DC bias and the collimator can be used         simultaneously.     -   The post deposition annealing treatment with vacuum or N2         ambient is sometimes needed to improve the crystallize state of         chalcogenide material. The annealing temperature typically         ranges 100 C. to 400 C. with an anneal time of less than 30         minutes.     -   The thickness of chalcogenide material depends on the design of         cell structure. In general, a chalcogenide material with         thickness of higher than 8 nm can have a phase change         characterization so that the material exhibits at least two         stable resistance states.

For additional information on the manufacture, component materials, use and operation of phase change random access memory devices, see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/155,067, filed 17 Jun. 2005, entitled Thin Film Fuse Phase Change Ram And Manufacturing Method.

The above descriptions may have used terms such as above, below, top, bottom, over, under, et cetera. These terms are used to aid understanding of the invention are not used in a limiting sense.

While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

Any and all patents, patent applications and printed publications referred to above are hereby incorporated by reference. 

1. A memory cell, the memory cell being part of a memory device, comprising: a bit line, a read word line and a program word line; a read device having first and second read terminals, the second read terminal connected to the read word line; a program device having first and second program terminals, the second program terminal connected to the program word line; a memory element comprising a memory region between first and second memory element terminals, at least the memory region of the memory element comprising a memory material having an electrical property that can be changed by the application of energy; the first memory element terminal connected to the first read terminal and the second memory element terminal connected to the bit line; an energy emitting element comprising first and second spaced apart energy emitting element terminals and an energy emitting region between the first and second energy emitting element terminals; the energy emitting region being in an energy-transmitting relationship with the memory region; and the first energy emitting element terminal connected to the first program terminal and the second energy emitting element terminal connected to the bit line.
 2. The memory cell according to claim 1 wherein the read device comprises a read transistor.
 3. The memory cell according to claim 1 wherein the entire memory element comprises a memory material.
 4. The memory cell according to claim 1 wherein the memory material comprises a phase change material.
 5. The memory cell according to claim 1 wherein the memory material comprises an electrical property that can be changed by the application of heat.
 6. The memory cell according to claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element emits heat energy.
 7. The memory cell according to claim 6 wherein the energy emitting element comprises a resistor.
 8. The memory cell according to claim 1 wherein the energy emitting region is electrically separated from the memory region.
 9. A phase change memory cell, the memory cell being part of a phase change memory device, comprising: a bit line, a read word line and a program word line; the read device having first and second read terminals, the second read terminal connected to the read word line; a program device having first and second program terminals, the second program terminal connected to the program word line; a phase change element comprising a phase change region between first and second phase change element terminals, at least the phase change region of the phase change element comprising a phase change material the electrical resistance of which can be changed by the application of heat; the first phase change element terminal connected to the first read terminal and the second phase change element terminal connected to the bit line; a heat emitting element comprising first and second spaced apart heat emitting element terminals and a heat emitting region between the first and second heat emitting element terminals; the heat emitting region being in a heat-transmitting relationship with the phase change region; and the first heat emitting element terminal connected to the first program terminal and the second heat emitting element terminal connected to the bit line.
 10. A method for programming a memory cell, the memory cell being part of a memory device, the memory cell of the type comprising: a memory element comprising a memory region between first and second memory element terminals, at least the memory region of the memory element comprising a memory material having an electrical property that can be changed by the application of energy; an energy emitting element comprising first and second spaced apart energy emitting element terminals and an energy emitting region between the first and second energy emitting element terminals; the energy region being in an energy-transmitting relationship with the memory region, the method comprising: changing the electrical property state of the memory region by passing a first electrical current between the first and second energy emitting element terminals thereby transmitting energy from the energy emitting region to the memory region; sensing the electrical property state of the memory material element by passing a second electrical current between the first and second memory element terminals.
 11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the electrical property state changing step comprises transmitting heat energy from the energy transmitting region to the memory region.
 12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the electrical property state changing step is carried out on a memory region comprising a phase change material.
 13. The method according to claim 10 wherein the electrical property state changing step comprises changing the electrical resistance of the memory element.
 14. The method according to claim 10 wherein the changing step is carried out with the first electrical current not passing into the memory material element, and the sensing step is carried out with the second electrical current not passing into the energy emitting element. 